The Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, La Mesa Boricua de Florida, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora, Alianza Latina of South Carolina, the National Puerto Rican Agenda, Alianza for Progress and La Tejedora Denounce DHS Agents Intimidation at Chicago’s National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
Washington DC – On Tuesday, July 8th, more than 15 unmarked vehicles with armed men in plainclothes descended on the parking lot and surrounding grounds of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park, Chicago, without providing any identification, warrants or probable motive, and remaining on site for two hours, refusing to leave as requested by staff.
Staff at the Museum, a private property located on city land in the historic heart of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago, said that they repeatedly asked the Homeland Security (DHS) agents why they were there. When two of them entered the Museum building to use the bathroom, they instead walked in a different direction.
Museum staff reported that they overheard agents speaking about plans related to the Museum’s upcoming Barrio Arts Festival.
The following statement can be attributed to the Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, La Mesa Boricua de Florida, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora, Alianza Latina of South Carolina, the National Puerto Rican Agenda, Alianza for Progress, and La Tejedora:
“This clear act of intimidation and attempt to use Museum property as a staging site for an assault on Chicago’s Latino and immigrant communities is outrageous. We stand with the Museum and in solidarity with immigrants against the massive racial profiling and abduction operation being conducted by anonymous people dressed like paramilitary squads.
“From the targeting of Jesús Colón during the McCarthy era, to years of state sanctioned surveillance and violence against Puerto Ricans in the archipelago and in the states, Puerto Ricans are well-versed in persecution and the fear these tactics are designed to create. We also know that white supremacist leaders make no distinction based on migration or citizenship status when they seek to intimidate and violate the rights of Latinos and other nonwhite people.
“What happened this week at the Museum is a call to action for our entire people and allies to stand together in defense of our communities. As Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes said, when they come for one of us, they come for all of us.”
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